Compare towns
Bleecker vs Putney vs Benson vs Minerva
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bleecker has the oldest population (median age 59.7).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Benson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bleecker | Putney | Benson | Minerva |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 563 |
2,622Highest |
271Lowest |
836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7 44% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.3%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Minerva and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,375±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Putney and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,100±$61k 34% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$230,100±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$286Highest 33% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— | $784±$102 45% below U.S. |
| Bleecker and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,893 25% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,608 16% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.